# List of people from Fort Wayne, Indiana

The following is a list of notable natives, residents, or former residents of Fort Wayne, Indiana.

## Artists, designers, and architects

* Bill Blass, fashion designer
* Bob Englehart, editorial cartoonist
* Richard "Grass" Green, cartoonist
* John Hambrock, cartoonist
* Eric Kuhne, architect
* Dick Moores, cartoonist
* Gray Morrow, comic book illustrator, art director for Spider-Man
* Bruce Nauman, artist
* Richard Nunez, artist
* Frederick William Sievers, sculptor
* Alvin M. Strauss, architect
* Egerton Swartwout, architect
* Brentwood S. Tolan, architect
* Thomas J. Tolan, architect
* George Washington Whistler, railroad engineer

## Athletes

* Baseball
** Isabel Álvarez, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
** Lenna Arnold, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player (1946 Fort Wayne Daisies)
** Phyllis Bookout, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player (1953 Fort Wayne Daisies)
** Rob Bowen, MLB (2003–2008) Minnesota Twins, San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Oakland Athletics
** Dottie Wiltse Collins, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (1944–1950; Minneapolis Millerettes, Fort Wayne Daisies)
** David Doster, MLB (1996, 1999) Philadelphia Phillies
** Bill Everitt, MLB (1895–1901) Chicago Colts/Orphans, Washington Senators
** Brent Gaff, MLB pitcher (1982–1984) New York Mets
** Harold Greiner (1907–1993), All-American Girls Professional Baseball League manager (Fort Wayne Daisies) and restaurant entrepreneur
** Steve Hargan, MLB pitcher (1965–1972, 1974–1977) Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Toronto Blue Jays, Atlanta Braves
** Louie Heilbroner, manager, MLB (1900) St. Louis Cardinals
** Butch Henline, MLB (1921–1931) New York Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, Brooklyn Robins, Chicago White Sox
** Kevin Kiermaier, MLB player (2013–present) Tampa Bay Rays, Toronto Blue Jays
** Naomi Meier, All-American Girls Professional Baseball League player
** Bruce Miller, MLB (1973–1976) San Francisco Giants
** Ralph Miller, MLB (1920–1924) Philadelphia Phillies, Washington Senators
** Rabbit Nill, MLB (1904–1908) Washington Senators, Cleveland Naps
** Jarrod Parker, MLB pitcher (2011–2013) Arizona Diamondbacks, Oakland Athletics
** Brian Reith, MLB pitcher (2001, 2003–2004) Cincinnati Reds
** Mike Roesler, MLB pitcher (1989–1990) Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates
** Andrew Saalfrank, MLB pitcher (2023–present) Arizona Diamondbacks
** Josh VanMeter, MLB utility (2019–present) Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks, Pittsburgh Pirates
** Ben Van Ryn, MLB pitcher (1996, 1998) California Angels, Chicago Cubs, San Diego Padres, Toronto Blue Jays
** Eric Wedge, player, MLB (1991–1994) Boston Red Sox, Colorado Rockies; manager, MLB (2003–2009) Cleveland Indians, (2011–2013)Seattle Mariners
** Andy Woehr, MLB (1923–1924) Philadelphia Phillies
* Professional basketball
** Curly Armstrong, NBA (1948–1951) Fort Wayne Pistons
** Dan Godfread, NBA (1990/91–1991/92) Minnesota Timberwolves, Houston Rockets
** Henry James, NBA (1990/91–1997/98) Cleveland Cavaliers, Utah Jazz, Sacramento Kings, Los Angeles Clippers, Houston Rockets, Atlanta Hawks
** Willie Long, NBA (1973–1974) Denver Rockets
** Kyle Macy, NBA (1980/81–1986/87) Phoenix Suns, Chicago Bulls, Indiana Pacers; sportscaster
** Mason Plumlee, NBA (2013–present) Brooklyn Nets, Portland Trail Blazers, Denver Nuggets, Detroit Pistons, Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Clippers
** Miles Plumlee, NBA (2012–present) Indiana Pacers, Phoenix Suns, Milwaukee Bucks, Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks
** Bill Roberts, NBA (1948/49–1949/50) Chicago Stags, Boston Celtics, St. Louis Bombers
** Herm Schaefer, NBA (1948–1950) Minneapolis Lakers
** Ed Stanczak, NBA (1949/50–1950/51) Anderson Packers, Boston Celtics
** Caleb Swanigan, NBA (2017–2022) Portland Trail Blazers, Sacramento Kings
** Malik Williams, NBA (2024–present) Toronto Raptors
* College basketball
** Deshaun Thomas, player for Ohio State
* Professional football
** Scott Auer, NFL (1984–1985) Kansas City Chiefs
** Mike Augustyniak, NFL (1981–1983) New York Jets
** Jason Baker, NFL (2001–2012) San Francisco 49ers, Philadelphia Eagles, Kansas City Chiefs, Indianapolis Colts, Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers
** Jessie Bates III, NFL (2018–present) Cincinnati Bengals, Atlanta Falcons
** Bill Boedeker, NFL (1946–1950) Chicago Rockets, Cleveland Browns, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers
** Jeremy Bridges, NFL (2004–2011) Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers
** Johnny Bright, CFL (1952–1964), Calgary Stampeders, Edmonton Eskimos, subject of the "Johnny Bright Incident"
** Bob Cowan, NFL (1947–1949), Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Colts
** John Diettrich, NFL (1987) Houston Oilers
** Vaughn Dunbar, NFL (1992–1995) New Orleans Saints, Jacksonville Jaguars
** Tyler Eifert, NFL (2013–2020) Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars
** Eric England, NFL (1994–1996) Arizona Cardinals
** Ricky Ervins, NFL (1991–1995) Washington Redskins, San Francisco 49ers
** Trai Essex, NFL (2005–2012) Pittsburgh Steelers, Super Bowl XL and Super Bowl XLIII champion
** Jason Fabini, NFL (1998–2008) New York Jets, Dallas Cowboys, Washington Redskins
** Steve Hall, NFL (1996) Minnesota Vikings, Indianapolis Colts
** James Hardy, NFL (2008–2011) Buffalo Bills
** Jim Juriga, NFL (1988–1991) Denver Broncos
** Selwyn Lymon, NFL (no professional games played) Miami Dolphins
** Austin Mack, NFL (2020–present) New York Giants
** Le'Ron McClain, NFL (2007–2013) Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, San Diego Chargers
** Bernard Pollard, NFL (2006–2014) Kansas City Chiefs, Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens, Tennessee Titans
** Emil Sitko, NFL (1950–1952) San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Cardinals
** Ben Skowronek, NFL (2021–present) Los Angeles Rams, Houston Texans
** Jaylon Smith, NFL (2016–present) Dallas Cowboys, Green Bay Packers, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders
** Lamar Smith, NFL (1994–2003) Seattle Seahawks, New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers
** Rod Smith, NFL (2015–present) Seattle Seahawks, Dallas Cowboys, Tennessee Titans, Oakland Raiders
** Anthony Spencer, NFL (2007–2015) Dallas Cowboys, New Orleans Saints
** Joe Tippmann, NFL (2023–present) New York Jets
** Drue Tranquill, NFL (2019–present) Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs
** Elmer Wilkens, NFL (1925) Green Bay Packers
** Rod Woodson, NFL (1987–2003) Pittsburgh Steelers, San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Oakland Raiders, Pro Football Hall of Famer
* Golf
** Amanda Blumenherst, U.S. Amateur champion
** Cathy Gerring, 3-time winner on LPGA Tour
** Billy Kratzert, 4-time winner on PGA Tour, sportscaster
* Professional hockey
** Drake Batherson, NHL Ottawa Senators
** Gracen Hirschy, SDHL (2017–present), Linköping HC
** Fred Knipscheer, NHL Boston Bruins, St. Louis Blues
** Dale Purinton, NHL (1999/2000–2003/04) New York Rangers
* Martial arts
** Jon Fitch, MMA fighter with UFC
** Dave Herman, MMA fighter with UFC
** Becky Levi, MMA fighter
* Soccer
** DaMarcus Beasley, forward and defender
** Jamar Beasley, forward
** Rece Buckmaster, defender and midfielder
** Akil Watts, defender
* Olympic swimming and diving
** Steve Bigelow, swimmer, 1988 Summer Olympics
** Matt Vogel, swimmer, two-time Olympic gold medalist, 1976 Summer Olympics
** Sharon Wichman, swimmer, Olympic gold medalist, 1968 Summer Olympics
** Dan Zehr, swimmer, 1932 Summer Olympics
* Olympic track and field
** LeShundra "DeDee" Nathan, 2000 Summer Olympics
* Volleyball
** Angie Akers, professional beach volleyball player
** Lloy Ball, Olympic gold medalist, 2008 Summer Olympics
** Dr. Don Shondell, author, head coach of Ball State University Cardinals men's volleyball program (1964–1998)
* Other notables
** Angela Bradburn-Spangler, USA national high jump champion 1994
** Eugene E. Parker, sports agent, 45th in Sports Illustrated's 101 most influential minorities in sports
** Ed Viesturs, mountaineer, first American to climb all 14 of the world's 8,000 meter peaks; fifth person ever to do so without the use of supplemental oxygen

## Authors and writers

* E. Jean Carroll, author, journalist
* Constance Cumbey, author, lawyer
* Les Edgerton, author
* Ashley C. Ford, author and essayist
* Edith Hamilton, author, mythology expert
* Stephen King, best-selling author (spent parts of childhood in the city)
* Ross Lockridge Jr., novelist
* Patricia Lockwood, writer
* Michael Martone, author
* George Jean Nathan, author, drama critic, founder of American Spectator
* William Rockhill Nelson, founder of the Kansas City Star
* Emmanuel Ortiz, poet, writer
* Charlie Savage, New York Times reporter, 2007 Pulitzer Prize winner

## Business leaders

* Gregory W. Becker, final CEO of Silicon Valley Bank, is from Fort WayneGregory W. Becker, final CEO of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB)
* Patrick M. Byrne, president and CEO of Overstock.com
* Dirk Gates, founder and CEO of Xircom and Xirrus
* Jeff Hammerbacher, founder of Cloudera
* Angie Hicks, founder and CMO of AngiesList.com
* Zach Klein, co-founder of social networking site Vimeo
* Nord Krauskopf, founder of K&K Insurance; NASCAR Winston Cup Series race car owner (1966–1977)
* Russell W. Kruse, auctioneer, founder of Kruse International
* Cook Lougheed, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and Allen County Councilman
* Dale W. McMillen, founder of Central Soya
* Cosette Simon, philanthropist, politician, first female Mayor of Fort Wayne (1985)
* Chuck Surack, philanthropist, founder of Sweetwater Sound
* Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy's International
* Kevin Wall, Emmy Award-winning producer, environmentalist, founder of Live Earth
* Childe Wills, associate of Henry Ford
* Fred Zollner, industrialist, founder of the NBA and Fort Wayne Zollner Pistons

## Inventors and scientists

* Sylvanus Bowser, inventor of the gas pump
* Philo T. Farnsworth, inventor of the television
* John Henry Holland, pioneer in the field of genetic algorithms
* Alfred Mellowes, inventor of the electric refrigerator

## Media

* Julia Barr, two-time Daytime Emmy award-winning actress, All My Children
* Jill Bennett, actress
* Nicole Briscoe, 1998 Miss Illinois Teen USA, host of ESPN2's NASCAR Now
* Eric Bruskotter, actor
* Dan Butler, actor
* Ann Colone, broadcaster, talkshow host
* Jenna Fischer, Emmy-nominated actress, The Office
* Sharon Gabet, actress
* Hilliard Gates, sportscaster
* Molly Hagan, actress
* Drake Hogestyn, actor
* Neil LaBute, director, screenwriter, playwright
* Stephanie Larimore, model, Playboy Playmate of the Month
* Carole Lombard, Oscar-nominated actress, My Man Godfrey
* Shelley Long, Golden Globe and Emmy-winning actress, Cheers
* Marilyn Maxwell, actress
* Patrick McVey, actor
* Robert Rusler, actor
* Andrea Russett, actress, Internet celebrity
* Chris Schenkel, sportscaster
* Carrie M. Shoaff, artist, author, potter, playwright, correspondent
* Herb Shriner, comedian, game show host
* Nancy Snyderman, MD, journalist, NBC News chief medical editor
* Zuzanna Szadkowski, actress
* Lyn Thomas, actress
* Randy Thompson, actor
* David Turnley, photographer
* Peter Turnley, photographer
* Herb Vigran, actor
* Dick York, Emmy-nominated actor, Bewitched

## Music

* Addison Agen, singer and finalist on The Voice
* Joey Allen, glam metal guitarist, Warrant
* Jeoffrey Benward, contemporary Christian singer, songwriter
* Sonny Charles, soul singer, Checkmates, Ltd., Steve Miller Band
* Daniel E. Gawthrop, contemporary classical composer
* Heather Headley, Tony and Grammy Award-winning Broadway actress and R&B singer
* Edwin C. Metcalfe, saxophonist with Spike Jones
* Megan Mullins, country singer
* Niyoki, gospel musician
* Amanda Perez, R&B singer
* Petra, Grammy-winning Christian rock band
* Jon Schaffer, heavy metal guitarist, songwriter, Iced Earth
* Troy Shondell, rock and roll singer, songwriter
* Jordan Witzigreuter, pop singer (stage name The Ready Set)

## Physicians and medical researchers

* Alice Hamilton, MD, first woman on faculty of Harvard Medical School; sister of Edith Hamilton
* Jane Henney, MD, first woman Commissioner of the FDA (1998–2001)
* Leonard A. Scheele, MD, seventh U.S. Surgeon General (1948–1956)
* Susan Smalley, Ph.D., first to conduct genome-wide study in ADHD
* Allen Steere, MD, identifier of Lyme disease

## Public servants

* E. Ross Adair, U.S. Representative (1951–1971), United States Ambassador to Ethiopia (1971–1974)
* Robert E. Armstrong, Fort Wayne Mayor (1975–1979), Allen County Councilman (1990–2002)
* Paul W. Baade, major general in the United States Army
* Harry W. Baals, Fort Wayne mayor (1934–1947, 1951–1954)
* Paul Frank Baer, first flying ace in American military aviation
* Henry C. Berghoff, Fort Wayne Mayor (1901–1906) and co-founder of the Herman J. Berghoff Brewing Company
* Tim Berry, Indiana State Treasurer (1999–2007), Indiana State Auditor (2007–2013), Indiana Republican Party Chairman (2013–present)
* Samuel Bigger, Indiana State Representative (1834–1835), Indiana Circuit Court Judge (1835–1840), seventh Governor of Indiana (1840–1843)
* James W. Borden, judge and diplomat
* Randy Borror, Indiana State Representative (2001–2010)
* Claude Bowers, writer, U.S. Ambassador to Spain (1933–1939), U.S. Ambassador to Chile (1939–1953)
* Samuel Brenton, U.S. Representative (1851–1853, 1855–1857)
* Susan Brooks, Deputy Mayor of Indianapolis (1998–1999), U.S. Attorney for Southern Indiana (2001–2007), U.S. Representative (2013–present)
* James R. Clapper, Director of National Intelligence (2010–2017)
* Daniel R. Coats, U.S. Representative (1981–1989), United States Ambassador to Germany (2001–2005), U.S. Senator (1989–1999, 2011–2017)
* Walpole G. Colerick, U.S. Representative (1879–1883)
* Joseph K. Edgerton, U.S. Representative (1863–1865)
* Shirley Adele Field, judge, Oregon State Representative (1956–1960, 1962–1966)
* Dan Flanagan, lawyer, Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court (1953–1954), Allen County Republican Party leader
* Eliza George, Civil War nurse (1863–1865)
* Phil GiaQuinta, Indiana State Representative (2006–present)
* George W. Gillie, U.S. Representative (1939–1949)
* Timothy Goeglein, White House Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs Deputy Director (2001–2008)
* Allen Hamilton, Allen County sheriff (1824–1826), Fort Wayne Postmaster (1825–1831), Allen County Auditor, Clerk, and Recorder (1831–1838)
* Mitch Harper, Indiana State Representative (1978–1990), Fort Wayne City Councilman (2008–2016)
* Paul Helmke, Fort Wayne Mayor (1988–2000), President of Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence (2006–2011), founder of the Civic Leaders Center at Indiana University (2013-).
* Tom Henry, Fort Wayne City Councilman (1984–2004), Fort Wayne Mayor (2008–2024)
* Richard E. Hoagland, U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan (2003–2006), U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan (2008–2011), Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia (2013–2015)
* William J. Hosey, Fort Wayne Mayor (1905–1909, 1913–1917, 1921–1925, 1929–1934)
* Merchant W. Huxford, doctor, Fort Wayne Mayor (1845–1849)
* Samuel D. Jackson, U.S. Senator (1944)
* Paul G. Jasper, Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court (1949–1953)
* Matt Kelty, politician, architect
* Edward H. Kruse, U.S. Representative (1949–1951)
* Henry Lawton, U.S. Army General (1861–1865, 1867–1899), namesake of Lawton, Oklahoma
* Thomas R. Marshall, 27th Governor of Indiana (1909–1913), 28th U.S. Vice President (1913–1921)
* Hugh McCulloch, first Comptroller of the Currency (1863–1865), U.S. Secretary of the Treasury (1865–1869, 1884–1885)
* Robert Meyers, Fort Wayne Mayor (1954–1959), Allen County Superior Court Judge (1971–1985)
* Winfield Moses, Fort Wayne City Councilman (1972–1979), Mayor (1980–1987), Indiana State Representative (1992–2012)
* Cherrish Pryor, Indiana State Representative (2008–present)
* Ben Quayle, U.S. Representative (2011–2013)
* Graham Richard, entrepreneur, Fort Wayne Mayor (2000–2008)
* James M. Robinson, judge, U.S. Representative (1897–1905)
* Mark Souder, U.S. Representative (1995–2010)
* Harold J. Warner, Oregon Supreme Court Chief Justice (1955–1957)
* James Bain White, U.S. Representative (1887–1889)
* George W. Wood, first Fort Wayne Mayor (1840–1841)
* James Worden, twelfth Fort Wayne Mayor (1865-1866), Justice of the Indiana Supreme Court (1858-1865, 1871-1882)

## Religious leaders

* Herman Joseph Alerding, bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (1900–1924)
* John Chapman, Swedenborgian, nurseryman, missionary, famous American folklore figure Johnny Appleseed
* John Michael D'Arcy, auxiliary bishop of Archdiocese of Boston (1974–1985), bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (1985–2009)
* William Edward McManus, auxiliary bishop of Archdiocese of Chicago (1967–1976), bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (1976–1985)
* Archbishop John F. Noll, bishop of Roman Catholic Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend (1925–1956), founder of Our Sunday Visitor
* Wilhelm Sihler, Lutheran minister and founder of Concordia Theological Seminary
* Alexa Suelzer, Roman Catholic nun, author, educator, theologian
* Robert Thieme, author, pastor of Berachah Church (1950–2003)

## Miscellaneous

* Charlie Brandt, serial killer
* Dean Corll, serial killer
* Louis Edward Curdes, flying ace of WWII
* Alexander Ewing, soldier during the American Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, later a founding resident of Fort Wayne
* Florence M. Montgomery, art historian and curator
* Alixa Naff, historian
* ML Procise, concert sound engineer
* Margaret Ringenberg, aviator
* Ernest Gottlieb Sihler, professor of classics at New York University
* Art Smith, aviator
* Homer Van Meter, infamous bank robber who worked with John Dillinger